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Matthew 15.21-28: a Test-Case for Jesus' Manners

Northern Baptist College, Luther King House, Brighton Grove Rusholme, Manchester M14 5JP

Commentators adopting a historical-critical approach to the story of Jesus' encounter with a Canaanite woman (Mt. 15.21-28) have spent much time trying to justify, or explain away his rudeness towards her. In engaging in a narrative reading we uncover the way in which this story adds to the understanding of the themes of conflict, inadequate faith and rejection which characterize the central section of Matthew's story. In a clever reversal of expectations, the Canaanite woman is seen to adopt the role normally taken by Jesus, giving herself in humility to achieve the liberation of her daughter. This facilitates the narrative development of the Gospel by allowing Jesus to reorientate his understanding of the mission of God, into which the reader is being drawn. The conversion of Jesus by an 'outsider' in turn encourages the reader to move from an exclusive to an inclusive understanding of Christian discipleship.

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